Summer Update!

 We are having a very full summer so we haven't had a chance to let you know all that has happened!

Amy's Entrance

We were blessed to receive Amy as our newest dokimos (postulant) at Vespers on May 20 for the feast of Sts. Constantine and Helen. Amy is from Protection of the Mother of God Slovak Byzantine Catholic Parish in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. Her entrance was a joyous occasion with her family and a couple of close friends. Bishop Robert’s insights in his homily so perfectly encapsulate the life of a monastic, calling us all into deeper union with God:

“I think I’ve learned as I have come to visit here and pray here more--and the beautiful video the nuns have given us recently--that if we take divinization and theosis seriously, a journey really that began with our baptism, first and foremost, it’s about openness to God’s love. Much less is it about what we do, what we accomplish, how many Jesus Prayers we pray, or how diligent we are in the chant or the holy services. It’s about this openness to God’s love.”

Please keep Amy in your prayers as she begins this journey deeper into God’s love for her, and please pray for all the women who are in various stages of discerning the monastic life with us.

See our photo album of the Entrance here

Spring Work Day

Thank you to all of our fearless volunteers who braved the rain and mud to help us have a successful workday. From those who helped us do a deep spring cleaning of our buildings, prepare our garden beds, cut down trees at the shrine, weed, clean the gutters, and every little odd job, we are continually astounded by your generosity.

Workdays are also such a wonderful time to get to see our friends and hear about the beautiful things God is doing in your life:  engagements, babies, getting ready for a new work opportunity, or starting college. The greatest gift you give us every work day is your friendship. Ending the day with prayer and a meal with you is a highlight for us every time.

We especially would like to thank the Shrine of Our Lady of Mariapoch and Deacon Greg Loya for hosting us for Vespers and dinner.

May God bless you, and we hope you will come visit us to join us for prayer in the coming months.

See our Workday Photo Album here

ByzanTeen Youth Rally

We had a wonderful time with the teens who gathered for the ByzanTeen Youth Rally at John Carroll University. We helped to teach chotki-tying to dozens of enthusiastic participants. It was an uplifting experience to pray with all those who had gathered from around our Metropolitan Church with all of our bishops. Mother Natalia assisted the teen cantors of our parishes who led the services in singing. 

We were delighted to see how many of our teens are aspiring to greatness and holiness. We were also inspired to take courage and follow Christ as the Rally invited all present to be courageous in their lives. 

Mother Cecilia Reelected

Mother Cecilia has been reelected for another term as hegumena (abbess) of Christ the Bridegroom Monastery. Please keep her in your prayers as she continues her leadership in the monastery, caring for administrative matters as well as for the physical, psychological, and spiritual wellbeing of the nuns.

May God grant her many blessed years!

Mariapoch Pilgrimage, August 15-16

Consider joining us for the Annual Pilgrimage at the Shrine of Our Lady of Mariapoch (across the street from the monastery) as we celebrate the Feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God. We will be cantoring many of the services and enjoying the company of the pilgrims.  To view the pilgrimage schedule, go to the shrine's webpage and then go to the tab on the left that says "Annual Pilgrimage." In addition, here is our monastery's schedule of Dormition services leading up to the pilgrimage:

Friday, August 14

6:30-9:00 p.m. "All Night" Vigil (Vespers, Matins, Burial Procession; the length is estimated, and feel free to join at any time)

Saturday, August 15

10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy and Blessing of Flowers (you're welcome to bring flowers for the blessing)

Summer Picnic, July 25

You're invited to our Monastery Summer Picnic on Saturday, July 25. We will gather at the Shrine of Our Lady of Mariapoch (across the street from our monastery; 17486 Mumford Rd. Burton, Ohio) for Vespers at 4:45 p.m. in the outdoor chapel and then a picnic dinner following at the shrine cafeteria. The event will end at 8:30 p.m. For those who haven't visited the monastery before, we'll be glad to give you a little tour of our monastery and chapel. Please bring your own picnic dinner and beverages. You may also want to bring a picnic blanket or lawn chairs in case we run out of room at the shrine's picnic tables. RSVP using this link by Monday, July 20, so that we can provide enough booklets for Vespers and notify you if anything changes.  

Please pray for Amy, entering May 20!

On this Great Feast of the Ascension, we joyfully announce the upcoming entrance of Amy MacInnis into our monastic community on May 20! Amy is our first international member, and her entrance is a long-awaited fruit of patience and immigration work! Please keep her in your prayers as she begins her time in the monastery as a dokimos ("one who is proved by testing"), continuing to discern her call here in a deeper way. She will enter fully into our life, as well as participate in the classes, studies and other types of formation given to those in their initial years in the monastery.

Amy MacInnis

Whitby, Ontario, Canada

39 years old

Parish: Protection of the Mother of God Slovak Byzantine Catholic Parish, Oshawa, Ontario

Degrees: MTS (Master in Theological Studies) from Regis College, BA in Philosophy from Tyndale University College, Certificate of Christian Humanities from Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy

From her application: Q: In your own words, what is the purpose of monastic life? A: "The purpose of monastic life is to provide those called by the Triune God to the monastery with the environment best suited for them to deepen their relationship with Him. The monastery is a sacred space set apart from the world, yet embedded in its heart (cf. Jn 17:13-18). Monastics embrace the mystery of a “life...hid in Christ with God” (Col 3:3), since the monastery is like leaven hidden in the dough of the world that secretly grows the Kingdom of God (Mt 13:33). Those called to the monastery carry the sinful and suffering world with them; they are drawn out of the world not due to disdain for it, but because they love the LORD and desire to give everything—themselves and the whole world—back to Him. The environment of the monastery, which fosters the giving and receiving of love, is one of poverty, chastity and obedience, aloneness and community, silence and praise, suffering and joy; its soil is humility, the death to self. Those called to the monastery prize God who is Love (1 Jn 4:8) above all else, and prioritize their prayer—their relationship with Him—in this life, as a foretaste of heaven. Their receptivity to Him in the present moment flows into the world for the sake of the Kingdom."

A life lesson on the trampoline!

A reflection by Maddie

Several weeks ago, on a Sunday afternoon, a few of the nuns and I went to the home of a family we’re friends with for a couple of hours. Immediately upon arrival, the kids beckoned for Mother Natalia and me to play with them, but feeling obliged to our adult duties, and promising to play later, we went inside to chat with the other adults. The kids had been patient so when they came back to us asking that we jump on the trampoline with them, we agreed. I’m not sure how many of you reading this have been on a trampoline since you were a kid, but as an adult it’s both terrifying and exciting. Especially when the trampoline is on a slight slant, full of children, whom you’re trying not to crush, and two adults. 

After we had played “Crack the Egg,” a timeless classic in trampoline games, and the children had thoroughly mocked me for any fear I had, one of the kids suggested we play the game “Resurrection.” Mother Natalia and I agreed but admitted we were not familiar with the trampoline game-rendition of Resurrection. The kids quickly explained the game to us. One of the kids would be Jesus, while another one would be Satan. The kid playing Satan had to remain on their knees and would have to try and tag all the other people on the trampoline. If Satan tagged us, Jesus could come, touch us, and resurrect us. Satan couldn’t tag Jesus and the only way for Satan to win and end the game was if he or she tagged all of us before Jesus could resurrect us. The only other rule being that we had to stay on the trampoline. As the game commenced, children scattered everywhere and I found myself sliding on the slick surface of the trampoline trying not fall, step on any kids, or get tagged by Satan, while trying to establish a strategy. 

It quickly dawned on me that the best way to success in this game was not just to stay away from Satan, but simply to stay as close as possible to Jesus. As I thought this to myself, I chuckled because of how true this is of the spiritual life as well. It’s not enough to only run away from Satan. We need to be running towards something, Someone. Eventually we’re going to slip, trip, or get cornered and tagged by Satan. Jesus is there to resurrect us from our sin, but we must keep turning to Him, pursuing Him, allowing Him to be our shield. While I may have said this trampoline game was simple, I did not say it was easy and neither is the spiritual life. However, Jesus just wants us to keep trying and allowing Him to touch and heal us. To keep staying near to Him no matter how much we might slip and nearly fall off in doing so. 

“God reveals His victory not only to the strong, but to the faithful”

This homily of Fr. Iuliu-Vasile Muntean from this Sunday of the Myrrhbearers was very beautiful to us, and we wanted to share it with you. Here is a little excerpt:

"What is the stone I am worried about?

What is the act of love Christ is asking of me anyway?

Where am I waiting for guarantees instead of walking forward in fidelity?

The women did not know how the story would unfold.

But they went.

Joseph and Nicodemus did not know how everything would be resolved.

But they acted.

The apostles in Acts did not have a perfect Church.

But they served faithfully.

And Christ, the Bridegroom, met all of them there."